Kai Havertz Opens Up on Pressure He Felt Following Big Money Move to Chelsea

Chelsea attacker Kai Havertz has opened up on the pressure that came with his big-money move to the Stamford Bridge outfit in the summer transfer window of 2020.

Chelsea signed Kai Havertz from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £72m including add-ons. The price Chelsea paid to acquire the services of Havertz meant that the expectations placed on the German attacker was high.

Kai Havertz struggled to immediately hit the ground running at Chelsea. In his first season at Chelsea, the now 23-year-old appeared in 45 games for the west London outfit and scored just nine goals.

However, one of those goals came in the UEFA Champions League final as Chelsea defeated Real Madrid 1-0 to clinch the coveted title in the 2020/21 season.

Kai Havertz on the pressure of big money move: “People think you are Messi”

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Speaking to The Guardian, Kai Havertz opened up about the pressure he felt following his big money move to the Premier League side. He said that the price Chelsea paid to sign him generated an expectation in people that he had to be great from day one.

“For me the price was a big thing,” Kai Havertz said. “I was Chelsea’s most expensive player. I don’t understand how so much money is paid but it is normal in football: look at our recent transfers.

“That brings pressure because people think you are Messi. I was still 20, 21. People don’t see that; they see the price so you have to be great from day one. You can feel it, the tension. You read it, hear it. I came during Covid.”

Kai Havertz also urged to be patient with Enzo Fernandes and Mykhailo Mudryk, Chelsea’s recent big money signings.

He said: “Enzo [Fernández] and [Mykhailo] Mudryk have come for a lot of money and they’re only [22], you know? You cannot expect them to be Neymar straight away. It’s like me: it takes time.”

Meanwhile, since signing for Chelsea, Kai Havertz has appeared in 128 games across all competitions for the Stamford Bridge outfit. He has racked up 32 goals in those matches.

Havertz has made 36 appearances across all competitions for Chelsea so far in the current campaign. He has also amassed nine goals and an assist in those matches. He has a contract that runs until 2025 with Chelsea.